My setting is above yours!

Chapter 89 [Trick] Sequence Four Potion Recipe, "The Actor" (4k3)

However, despite saying that, Ron couldn't be sure how deep the cooperation between the Silver Knight and that "Saint" had gone.

Did He already know the method for advancing to Sequence Four, or was He simply following His guidance, hoping to receive a gift from that saint in the future...?

This matter still needs further investigation.

Ron was confident that if he met the Silver Knight again and pointed out his goal, he would have a chance to deduce from his reaction whether the Silver Knight already knew how to advance to the fourth sequence of [Trickery].

...But Ron couldn't calculate how many times he would have to start over and how many lives he would have to sacrifice.

'We still have to risk our lives to try...'

He sighed, making a plan in his mind, but unlike before, he didn't abruptly tear open the limb prison and swagger out of the cell to avoid being "monitored" by Kurt.

Kurt was clearly not that "saint," but he possessed some kind of power derived from that "saint"...

If Ron is not mistaken, as long as he behaves in ways that exceed the "Saint's" acceptable limits, Kurt will immediately become the vessel for the "Saint's" descent and deal with Ron, who dared to overstep the bounds.

However, this also proves that the threshold for threats that "saint" can accept is extremely low.

After all, even when Ron disguised himself as an angel's follower in front of Kurt and displayed the powerful ability of [Illusion Dissolve], he still couldn't elicit any reaction from this "Saint"...

On the contrary, just now, this "saint" was about to kill Ron to hide information when Ron, who was merely disguised as a clergyman of the [Church of the Lost] and preparing to go to Fog City to report and request assistance.

It's clear that his current condition is extremely poor... He doesn't dare to face a high-sequence extraordinary being who might come from the Fog City, and he's even less willing to cause any trouble by contacting an angelic being whose true nature he can't distinguish.

'It's good that he's in bad form; the worse his form, the better his chances of beating him...'

'Therefore, this time, the first goal of [Fleeting Light and Shadow] is to try to avoid everyone's eyes and see if there's a chance to escape Evening Bell City...'

After all, if Ron could escape Evening Bell City on his own, he wouldn't need to seek help from the Silver Knight.

Are the superhumans of the seven major churches of the Fog City weaker than the Silver Knight?
Judging from that "saint's" cautious reaction, news about Him might attract other saints, or even His enemies who are ready to kick him while he's down...

With this in mind, Ron deliberately pretended to be an ordinary person who knew nothing, and upon seeing the husk, he panicked and screamed, controlling the husk to perform an extremely ferocious act, "biting" himself to death—

Then, he lay down on the ground, letting the magic of death surge wildly in his blood, while simultaneously activating the extraordinary abilities of the Corpse Man to strengthen his body with the magic of death.

Soon, Ron felt his body grow cold. The magic of [Death] had strengthened his body to its limit, but the coldness and death aura made him look like a corpse.

In addition, a trace of [death] magic flowed from his seven orifices, deliberately guided by Ron...

Ron looked exactly like a normal, newly formed husk, transformed from the despair of death and the magic of the husk!
This scene was naturally witnessed by Kurt, who was in the cell next to it.

"Another unlucky guy who got bitten to death by a husk... Damn it, how did he even turn into a husk?"

"Damn it, these Fire Knights don't even deal with these monsters. They'll be bitten to death by them sooner or later..."

Kurt muttered a curse under his breath, a hint of panic flashing across his face.

He cautiously shrank back into the corner, hiding himself in its shadow, no longer daring to look at Ron.

If a single corpse could suddenly erupt and tear through the cage to torment other prisoners, how much more so if there are two corpses?

He didn't want to be torn to shreds by these two corpses, or to be tainted by the magic of "death" and transformed into a mere shell in boundless despair and pain...

As he moved to the corner and turned his head away, not daring to look any longer, Ron, who had been controlling the rotting corpse to aimlessly patrol the cage, immediately opened his eyes, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

‘Success! ’

His disguise successfully fooled Kurt—after all, Kurt was only a Sequence 9 superhuman. Before being used as a vessel by that "Saint" and controlled by him, how could he possibly see through Ron's disguise as a Sequence 7 superhuman?
As Kurt looked away, Ron no longer saw any conscious prisoners looking at him.

'The opportunity has arrived...'

He carefully manipulated the rotting carcass to feign agitation, and stood up himself, pretending to obey its commands, following behind as it tore at the cage that imprisoned him.

The twisted limbs relentlessly lashed at the rotting carcass, but were still bitten many times by it. Seemingly in real pain, the twisted limbs humanely opened a gap, throwing the carcass and Ron out all at once...

Soon, the two "shells" wandered aimlessly through the darkness of the prison, gradually moving away until they finally hid in a dark place where no one could see them. They immediately activated the "Thousand Faces" feature, transforming themselves into ordinary-looking figures.

Then, carefully avoiding everyone's gaze, he moved slowly and carefully, escaping the Scorched Earth Sanctuary...

'Next, all that's left is to run to the foggy city... This time I wasn't seen by anyone, so how will I be discovered now?'

Ron, confident in his abilities, once again embarked on the road to the Fog City—

But those familiar words came from behind me once again:

"Sir, where do you wish to go?"

Ron turned his head and saw the Silver Knight emerge from somewhere.

The corpse, which was originally controlled by Ron through the "Minister of Ignorance," has now broken free from the influence of that system, and a gloomy gray mist is emanating from the countless festering and rotting wounds on its body...

The swirling mist transformed into its eyes, which were now staring intently at Ron, seemingly lost in thought.

'……Grass!'

Seeing this, Ron couldn't hold back anymore.

Although he had considered the possibility that he might not be able to escape the grasp of a "saint"... he never imagined that he would be unable to escape in this way!
What is this thing that even the corpse is a vessel for the arrival of this "saint"?

So, no matter what, if I try to escape from prison, won't I definitely be targeted by this "saint"?
As soon as they discover that Ron is trying to escape Evening Bell City, they will immediately follow him with the Silver Knight...

Ron was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

A hazy, drowsy feeling washed over him again, but this time Ron was somewhat used to it; his consciousness was only confused for a moment before he came to his senses.

'No... I'm going to die anyway, I can't waste this effort. I'll ask the Silver Knight one question first!' 'You probably only have one sentence...'

He remembered his objective and knew that this attempt at [Flash of Light and Shadow] would again be fatal. Without hesitation, he addressed the Silver Knight:

"I can help you advance to Sequence Four of [Trickery]!"

Upon hearing this, the Silver Knight, who was originally preparing to interrogate Ron to find out if he knew anything, was stunned, and his face immediately turned ugly.

'Who is he? How did he know I'd been planning this promotion for so long?'

A storm raged within him, and countless thoughts surged within him.

After a moment of silence, he gritted his teeth and made a decision, standing in front of Ron, and immediately turned to look at the corpse that had been controlled by the "Saint":

"How could anyone else know about this? Didn't you say that only you knew about the ritual for the [Mithril Knight] to jump to [Theatrical Actor]?"

But the "corpse shell" only glanced at him indifferently before appearing behind the Silver Knight at some unknown time, grabbing Ron and instantly transforming him into a human skin.

Gray mist emanated from Ron's seven orifices, scattering his soul into threads of pulverized fragments.

At this moment, the "corpse shell" spoke softly, saying:
“Well, right now I’m the only one who knows about that ritual… What, [42], can you find someone else who knows about this?”
"Of course, you are free to go and find out... However, I can assure you that you have no chance of learning about that ritual from anyone else..."

Upon seeing this scene, the Silver Knight's face froze, and a chill ran through him.
'He has become stronger again...He is truly about to become a saint again!'

'He is still my only chance for promotion... I cannot defy Him...'

A sense of helplessness arose in his heart. The Silver Knight remained silent for a long time before quietly stepping aside without saying a word.

Only then did the "corpse shell" have the mind to retrieve Ron's "thread of information," and then its face turned to shock and anger, as time seemed to freeze and reverse—

"Huh, huh..."

Once again, Ron was back in the prison of the Scorched Earth Sanctuary. Although the pain of his flesh melting still lingered in his body, it could not suppress the excitement in his heart.

Through this exploration, he successfully confirmed one thing—

The Silver Knight knew that [Mystery] could lead to [Trickery], but he hadn't yet received his reward from that "Saint"!
Moreover, not only that... that "saint" seems unwilling to take action against the Silver Knight now. He still needs the Silver Knight's help, so he is only controlling him through coercion and enticement, and has not been able to truly gain his loyalty!

No wonder the Silver Knight was so wary of that "Saint" and willing to work for him; it turns out that advancing from Sequence Five of [Mystery] to Sequence Four of [Trickery] requires a special ritual...

Only that "saint" knew about that ritual, which was why he was able to control the Silver Knight and make him work for him.

Considering the Silver Knight's performance at the time, if Ron could successfully obtain the ritual to advance from [Mystery] Sequence Five to [Trickery] Sequence Four, and temporarily escape the "Saint's" surveillance, he could find an opportunity to negotiate with the Silver Knight...

Ron believed that the Silver Knight, who could be rewarded by someone else and wouldn't have to be tied to this "Saint," would immediately turn against him!
Theoretically speaking, this is something that is simply impossible to accomplish.

After all, the ritual for advancing from Sequence 5 of [Mystery] to Sequence 4 of [Trickery] is a secret known only to that "Saint." Even if the Silver Knight is utterly rebellious, Ron can't find any leverage to make him turn against him...

But what can you do when Ron has a cheat code?

'Now is the time for it to make its appearance...'

Ron thought to himself, and subconsciously reached for the book "Introduction to Mysticism" that he had tucked into his pocket.

[Flash of Light and Shadow] only allows Ron to bring in settings from his own personal panel, but the mysterious magic book "Introduction to Mysticism," as a "setting anchor," is currently almost the only real-world item he can bring into [Flash of Light and Shadow].

The other item is also a "setting anchor," representing the illusory finger bone of the setting of "Void."

With "An Introduction to the Occult" in hand, Ron had no fear of not finding any secret rituals...

After all, if "Introduction to Mysticism" can even pull off an ascension ritual to become a Sequence Zero of [Trickery], how could it possibly fail to pull off an ascension ritual for a mere Sequence Four?
If he can touch Father Suer's [Trickery] Sequence 4 containment mask, he can easily obtain the related advancement ritual and potion recipe!
Although Father Sue possessed combat power far exceeding that of a Sequence 7 due to his Sequence 4 containment artifact, Ron didn't intend to kill him; he simply wanted to touch the mask...

For a Sequence Seven "medium," risking their life, touching the mask once wouldn't be difficult at all, let alone ten times!
Thinking this, Ron didn't hesitate. Just like his previous escape using [Light and Shadow], he slipped out of the Scorched Earth Sanctuary's prison and crouched in the shadows by the sanctuary's gate, waiting for Father Sul's arrival for morning prayers.

Soon, an elderly man dressed in a white robe embroidered with gold thread and a solemn expression arrived at the Scorched Earth Sanctuary, surrounded by the Knights of Fire. In his hand, he held a magnificent, pure silver, gilded mask...

Without hesitation, Ron immediately manipulated the husk to burst out of the shadows on the other side, fearlessly attacking the group of Fire Knights...

A sudden attack by magical creatures in the Scorched Earth Sanctuary caused a minor disturbance.

Without hesitation, Father Suer immediately ordered the Fire Chasers to disperse:

"Spread out your formation. This is just a Sequence Nine magical creature. Deal with it quickly..."

But before he could finish speaking, Ron leaped out of the shadows on the other side and pounced on Father Sue—

The target was the gilded mask in Father Suer's hands!

Upon seeing Ron suddenly rush out, Father Sue frowned and, with a speed almost unbecoming of his age, immediately put the mask on his face...

But Ron didn't care whether he put it on or not, and didn't stop Father Sue's actions at all. He simply ran his fingers across the mask, making real contact with the cold, hard material.

An arm immediately pierced through his chest and seized his heart.

Looking at Father Suer, who was wearing a mask and looking at him with a questioning gaze, and who crushed his heart without hesitation, Ron smiled.

"Success..."

A burning sensation came from his arms, and everything went black before his eyes. Time reversed once again, and he was back in the prison of the Scorched Earth Sanctuary.

But this time, something has changed...

Ron pulled a spellbook from his pocket, opened it, and immediately saw new text appear on it—

[Potion Recipe]

[Trick] Sequence Four, "Theatrical Actor"!
The bargaining chip to turn the Silver Knight against the Silver Knight is now in Ron's hands!
(End of this chapter)